1. Cleveland Cavaliers(2) - The Cavaliers rallied for an impressive win against Miami today and remain the only team this season to be undefeated at home. They hold home court admirably and they also are getting fantastic play out of Mo Williams lately. This team is playing a consistent brand of basketball, and although the assortment of players and the list of victories doesn't blow you away, they are the hottest team so far this season and they play fantastic defense and win basketball games at home. Those are three qualities of great teams.

2. Boston Celtics(1) - I know with two losses this week you could make arguments about them falling behind either Orlando or the Lakers, but they still have the best record in the league and last week people were questioning when exactly this team was going to lose. They had a tough western swing but the Celtics are still the best team in the league. I think it would be entirely irrational to drop them too far down the list.

3. Orlando Magic(3) - The Magic are the second hottest team in the league right now and are frequently blowing teams out of the arena. That performance against New Orleans on Christmas day was impressive. Getting Mickael Pietrus back from injury is going to help this team immensely in the near future. They continue to perform at a high level regardless of doubts concerning their ability to consistently perform at this level. Currently, they're at this level so I can't drop them.

4. Los Angeles Lakers (4) - The Lakers gained an emotional and emphatic triumph over Boston on Christmas day in one of the most anticipated regular season games in recent memory. Kobe Bryant, as of late, has been playing near his MVP level from last season and the Lakers have to love what they're getting out of players like Sasha Vujacic as of late. They've seemed to turn the corner on the difficult stretch that they seemingly were having and inner turmoil over their defense had to be addressed with that performance against Boston. They clearly are the best current team in the Western Confrence.

5. Atlanta Hawks(6) - Joe Johnson is playing at an amazing level currently and this Hawks team is clicking on both sides of the basketball. Their quick start has proved to not be a fluke as they continue to play great basketball even going into January. The team may lack true depth at the point guard position, but Johnson runs the offense so much that it masks that problem. Overall, Mike Woodson has this team playing at an unbelievable level.

6. San Antonio Spurs(10) - Tony Parker has elevated his game to an unbelievable level this season. His offensive game is as polished as any point guards in the league. That shot from Roger Mason was huge on Christmas day and Tim Duncan is quietly having an unbelievable season. Matt Bonner has really slowed as of late, and as a result I look for the Spurs to look for some inside scoring around the trade deadline. Knowing them, they'll find a team to give them an outcast and I look at Eddy Curry (don't laugh) as being someone who could fit in good with the Spurs. But they need another force in the paint to take some pressure off of Tim Duncan.

7. Denver Nuggets(9) - The team played great basketball without Carmelo Anthony in the lineup and then carried it over with a big win at Madison Square Garden today when Carmelo returned. This team continues to stay around the top and are getting fantastic production out of J.R. Smith as of late. Kenyon Martin has shown flashes of the player we all loved in New Jersey as of late but it's a shame that a lot of his explosiveness has limited him. He had the potential to be a really, really good player in his career.

8. Portland Trail Blazers(7) - They're getting production out of Brandon Roy, but they have to love the contributions they're getting night in and night out from players like Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and Joel Przybilla as those types of role players are what help a team become a consistent threat night in and night out.

9. New Orleans Hornets(5) - Their performances against Los Angeles and Orlando revealed they still have not yet turned that corner and become a really good team. They're still playing maddingly inconsistent basketball but Peja Stojakovic and Antonio Daniels returned this week and that is reason enough for optimism in New Orleans.

10. Houston Rockets(8) - Ron Artest has been great off of the bench since his return from injury and I look for the Rockets to continue to play him at that spot. Tracy McGrady has been really inconsistent this season and continues to be in and out of lineups with nagging injuries. It's a shame he could indirectly ruin the best chance the Rockets have had at a championship since Charles Barkley and Scottie Pippen were wearing Rockets uniforms.

11. Dallas Mavericks(12) - The Mavericks are playing tremendous basketball as of late and have gotten past that slow start to develop into a fun, cohesive unit. That suspension for Dirk Nowitzki is laughable but it didn't stop them from being the lowly Clippers. I know Jason Kidd's numbers are down, and he's not the player he once was, but I feel as if he's delivering so far this season for Dallas. No he's not the player that Devin Harris is but he's done a fine job keeping this team together this season and they're slowly getting healthy as well. The Mavericks have played above expectations so far this season and it'll be intersting to see them continue to try and do so.

12. Utah Jazz(11) - Injuries to Carlos Boozer, Deron Williams, Ronnie Price, Mehmet Okur and Paul Millsap have held this team back and they've still yet to field a consistent and healthy squad for an extended period of time so that we can fairly evaluate the legitimacy of this Utah squad this season. Overall, I believe Jerry Sloan has done a fantastic job keeping this unit at where they're at even though they can't get continuity in the lineup.

13. Phoenix Suns(13) - The Suns had one game this week and lost it but they played strongly against the Spurs on Christmas day. They're winning games and at this rate will put up a soild record for the season but they don't seem to have any sort of spark to them this season that makes them feel like a legitimate threat to a team in a seven game series. Amare Stoudemire, for all the talent that he posseses, is becoming a quiet 20 point 8 rebound guy and you never want to fall into that category.

14. Miami Heat(14) - A tough loss at Cleveland is the only problem the Heat have experienced the past couple of weeks. Their defense keeps them in every single game and they find ways to hang around and win ball games. Jamaal Magloire would be a nice boost to this team if he could ever get consistently healthy but I don't know if that's in his capabilities any longer.

15. Detroit Pistons(15) - The Pistons found ways to beat bad teams this week and it's still a step in the right drection. They've been around .500 since acquiring Allen Iverson but they've still got time to right the ship and become a threat come the postseason. But looking at the energy of this squad, you have to wonder if they will.

16. New Jersey Nets(18) - The Nets still refuse to go away. Devin Harris and Vince Carter, night in and night out, carry this squad and keep them playing at a competitive level. Brook Lopez has done a fine job and has settled in nicely at the starting center position but I think this team still lacks the overall talent to stay in the playoff race all season long. But they've exceeded expecations so far this season so it's not outside of the realm of possibility for this team to stay at this level.

17. Milwaukee Bucks(17) - The Bucks continue to stick around regardless of a lack of fanfare or consistency. Michael Redd has struggled a tad this season and Richard Jefferson's game has dropped a bit as of late but Andrew Bogut has done a great job keeping this team afloat. I'd also like to give some kudos to Charlie Villanueva for being voted the world's sexiest bald man, giving the Bucks their first player to win an award in the past couple of decades. Congratulations!

18. Chicago Bulls(16) - This squad, much like the team in Utah, continues to deal with inconvenient injuries and have not yet fielded a consistently healthy squad. Everyone can't seem to get cohesive on this team because of the injury problems. Derrick Rose and Ben Gordon have done a great job of keeping this team together but overall they are a perimeter based squad and unfortunately, when shots don't fall they have no shot of victory and that won't hold up all season long.

19. Philadelphia 76ers(19) - I've been wanting to say it the past few weeks so I will give credit this week, Marreese Speights has done a great job this season, especially in the recent absence of Elton Brand. Andre Iguodala has shown flashes of the player that he was last season but overall he and this squad have vastly underacheived this season.

20. Memphis Grizzlies(23) - I wonder what happened to Marc Gasol to see his minutes being reduced as the season has progressed. Rudy Gay and O.J. Mayo are nightly constants for this young squad and they finally have a sense of direction in Memphis for the first time since the first season they made the playoffs in 2003-2004.

21. Golden State Warriors(24) - The Warriors had a very impressive victory over Boston this week that was quickly forgotten after their performance against the Lakers tonight. Stephen Jackson has been playing better as of late but this team still misses Monta Ellis. Corey Maggette was a questionable addition when he signed with Golden State and word is the Warriors are listening to offers for the swingman. His contract may make it hard for him to be moved, but I don't believe it's going to work for him in Golden State.

22. Charlotte Bobcats(25) - Emeka Okafor has played great as of late, giving the Bobcats a consistent threat at the center position that they've lacked majorly this season. Boris Diaw gives him a body to work with down in the paint and Raja Bell has finally picked up his play after being traded from Phoenix. They're playing good, hard basketball at the moment and still have time to salvage the season by making a late season push for the playoffs.

23. Toronto Raptors(26) - The Raptors, mainly spearheaded by Jermaine O'Neal, responded in a big way this week after that dreadful previous couple of weeks that they played. This team still is a question mark as to whether or not they're going to right things this year but there's no denying how tough it's been to get a grip on this team.

24. New York Knicks(20) - The Knicks were never known for their defense even before the arrival of Mike D'Antoni, but the laziness on the defensive side of the ball has quickly spread in that locker room and has since grown to become a laughable ailment for this team. The team doesn't even try to guard you, which is what keeps them from pulling potential upsets over better squads.

25. Indiana Pacers(22) - The Pacers have yet to really get it together this season and after spending all season waiting for them to do so, I've finally come to the conclusion that it just may not happen. Mike Dunleavy has started to become more active after missing all season due to injury but I believe it's outside of his capabilities to turn this season around in Indiana. I said Brandon Rush would be a rookie to look out for this season and in turn he's played very underwhelming basketball this season.

26. Los Angeles Clippers (21) - The Clippers are such a Dr. Jeckyll/Mr. Hide squad. You have no idea if they're going to be competitive or susceptible to being blown out. They've recently given minutes to raw project DeAndre Jordan as of late and you have to wonder what that spells for oft injured but extremely talented center Chris Kaman with the now recently crammed frontcourt in Clipper land.

27. Sacramento Kings(27) - Their offense is so anemic without Kevin Martin in the lineup and I'm tired of waiting for him to come back and make this team competitive again. It has to be dissapointing that after such a strong season last year this team has played at the level it has this season, but injuries and inconsistency within the organization can derail a team on the rise and that's exactly what's happened to this identity-less team.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves(28) - The Timberwolves finally got a victory for coach Kevin McHale this week but still lack any true power on their squad. Rashad McCants and Ryan Gomes are two pieces of this team that would truly flourish on better squads but they basically serve no purpose for this horrible team. If you look at the current roster, you can't even say that they're rebuilding. They don't have any young projects in place aside from Al Jefferson. They're just an assortment of bad players.

29. Washington Wizards(29) - Now that Caron Butler is injured (and we all saw that coming), Antawn Jamison is all alone now as far as options for the Wizards. He was good enough for a victory over Oklahoma City but there's not much more he can do for this squad. He's played unbelievable basketball but it will and should go largely unnoticed around the league because this franchise is so poorly operated.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - I looked at the Thunder playing Joe Smith at the center position with concern but after looking at the level of center play around the league, I guess it's a gamble for the worst roster in the league. Nick Collison's injury obviously doesn't help matters but for the most part it really doesn't matter. I don't see Joe Smith (who would be a nice fit in San Antonio) or Desmond Mason finishing February in Oklahoma City jerseys.

In a word: dissapointing. That's about all you can say concerning this week for the Hornets. An extremely strong effort against the Rockets on Friday night couldn't help mask the fact that the team underperformed in the other three games of the week. I don't even know where to start in regards to the Christmas day game at Orlando. In the Hornets case, it's a nationally televised game against a very good Magic team and you proceed to get destroyed in an absolutely embarassing game. The fact that they got ran on by the Lakers isn't worse than the fact that they got destroyed by the Magic on Christmas day.

Injuries are really biting this team but injuries are affecting everyone and the Hornets can't fall back on that as an excuse. The team's two best players, Chris Paul and David West, have not missed a game this season and it's crucial that this team not become complacent relying on them. Other players need to learn to stand up and I believe in due time it will happen, but they have to make more of an effort for it to happen.

Tyson Chandler looked fantastic on Yao Ming in the Houston game and, honestly, aside from the foul trouble in that Orlando game, he's played very well as of late. It's great to see him returning to more of his natural self (even if he's still struggling to do it on a consistent basis). Antonio Daniels, Hilton Armstrong, and Peja Stojakovic all missed games this week for the Hornets and all were sorely missed. With Daniels out, Chris Paul played huge minutes against the Lakers and was almost a non factor at Orlando on Christmas day. Obviously, Peja's absence has been detrimental to this team although he did return in time to play in today's victory at Indiana.

Overall, not much can be said about this week other than the first two games of this week, supposed tests for the Hornets, are completely forgettable performances and an impressive victory over the Rockets didn't carry over for a game in which the Hornets had to rally to overcome the Pacers. They're not playing bad basketball, but as Byron Scott said, they're nowhere near an elite team yet. That was the goal from the start of this season, and unless they start playing with more consistency and effort they're going to be stuck in this motion basically all season.

A home game against the Wizards, a team that beat the Hornets twice last season (both games without Gilbert Arenas or Caron Butler) is a nice game to start the week before the team starts a Western road trip at Portland and Denver. A tough road trip looms and it's important for the Hornets to start showing some teeth against these better teams. Until next week.

1. Boston Celtics(1) - There's no better team in the league than Boston and they're head and shoulders above the rest of the league. They're going to approach the NBA's record 72 wins in a season though I can't see them overtaking that record. It's not outside of the realm of possibility, though and they're the class of the league.

2. Cleveland Cavaliers(3) - Delonte West has settled in extremely well at the shooting guard position for the Cavaliers. They're an unorthodox bunch, what with a 6'9" point guard, two big men (one who rebounds, one who scores) and two shooting guards but they find different ways to win. Mike Brown's insistence on defense has really done wonders for this team and everyone, including some Cavaliers players, are finally starting to see why this mentality is so critical to success. Just look at Boston. An aggressive, smart defense will always keep you in ball games. LeBron James will find ways to win many close ball games.

3. Orlando Magic(4) - They've really legitamized their placement atop the league this week with big victories over both San Antonio and the Lake show. This group is dangerous when everyone's connecting. They got Dwight Howard back from injury and had a tremendous week from Jameer Nelson and he was huge in both of the victories. They're a group of misfits but they find a way to work and they play hard. Stan Van Gundy has done a tremendous job with this organization.

4. Los Angeles Lakers(2) - Kobe Bryant has tried to do it all this week and for the first time all season, the Lakers look vulnerable. We know these tough patches come every year so I don't believe it's anything worth throwing up the white flag, but there is trouble with this team. Andrew Bynum isn't having the season he was supposed to have this year but they're getting really good production out of Trevor Ariza and Jordan Farmar off the bench. Lamar Odom doesn't seem as comfortable off of the bench as he did in the starting lineup. When he started against New York this week, he looked a lot like the player who was a huge contribution to last year's squad. I think Lakers fans really undervalued his importance but I doubt he'll start next season as a Laker.

5. New Orleans Hornets(8) - The Hornets are on a roll right now and are doing a tremendous job on the defensive side of the ball. Tyson Chandler has looked energized this week and James Posey continues to be a tremendous force off of the bench. Peja Stojakovic's injury is cause for concern and this week will be the true test as to if the Hornets run is legitimate, and they need a healthy Peja to really have a fair shake.

6. Atlanta Hawks(7) - Even though they loss to Boston this week (who hasn't) how strange was it to have people circling a game at Atlanta? This squad has the attention of the best team in the league and has had them on the verge of defeat two times this season. They ended the week with a strong defensive performance against Detroit and this team continues to overacheive. Al Horford has proved last season was no fluke.

7. Portland Trail Blazers(11) - I can't seem to get a firm enough understanding of this squad and I move them up between the top half of the league every week. Brandon Roy is right behind LeBron James and Dwyane Wade this season as far as MVP candidates are concerned and his 52 point performance against Phoenix Thursday night was amazing. The players play well as a team and they all know who the go to guy is. Minnesota fans have to look at Randy Foye and shake their head.

8. Houston Rockets(9) - Ron Artest seems pretty comfortable off of the bench and, honestly, Shane Battier's game may be better suited starting off for the Rockets. Rafer Alston's injury doesn't help matters but Aaron Brooks has done a fine job in the starting role. The team finds ways to win basketball games and Yao Ming deserves acclaim for his job so far this season as the anchor for this team.

9. Denver Nuggets(5) - This is the lowest the Nuggets have been since Chauncey Billups' arrival but they've hit a wall this week. After Carmelo Anthony's tremendous week last week, he shot horrible from the field this week. Their lack of explosiveness in the front court is crippling and they still seem to lack something to be taken serious as a Western confrence contender.

10. San Antonio Spurs(6) - I may have gotten too crazy with their run last week but the Spurs had two tough losses to New Orleans and Orlando this week. I'm shocked at the lack of minutes being distributed to Ime Udoka and Bruce Bowen but Popovich knows best about this squad. Kurt Thomas has seen a huge increase in minutes lately and I'm wondering if the Ian Mahinmi experiement is ever going to come to fruition.

11. Utah Jazz(10) - The Jazz organization is so caught up in the Carlos Boozer situation (his injury, whether or not he'll return next season) that they're letting it overshadow a very dissapointing start to this season for Utah. They've been very inconsistent this year and they still struggle on the road (unless they're playing Detroit). Deron Williams has yet to regain that level of play he's displayed the last two seasons but I see it only as a matter of time before he gets his feet back. When he does this team will take off, but it needs to happen soon.

12. Dallas Mavericks(12) - Dallas has had a quiet season but with the return of Josh Howard I think this team is ready to start taking strides. Jason Kidd can't do much at this stage in his career, but he can run an offense and Dirk Nowitzki's production with Kidd on the court is a testament to that. They take advantage of lesser competition and that's a huge upgrade from the beginning of the season. They just need to find ways to beat the better teams.

13. Phoenix Suns(14) - The Phoenix Suns have quietly had a huge week and a monster performance from Brandon Roy is all that kept it from perfect. I know Shaquille O'Neal is a punchline on these forums but his play this year has been solid for this team. I don't believe all that much has been lost from last season, but this talented bunch isn't having fun and I guess that means you complain regardless of record. I'm getting tired of the whining in Phoenix but that's a tradition Mike D'Antoni instilled that can never be replaced amongst that bunch.

14. Miami Heat(15) - Dwyane Wade had a tremendous week and this team as a whole had a tremendous week. A big Friday night victory against the Lakers was followed with a solid performance against New Jersey and this team seems to have finally developed some kind of a groove. Shawn Marion may not be playing up to his potential and Michael Beasley may be a huge dissapointment (statistically speaking) in the rookie class, but they have to love what they found in Mario Chalmers and I think Daequan Cook is doing a tremendous job in his important role off of the bench. They got a solid little team if they can get physical inside.

15. Detroit Pistons(13) - Rodney Stuckey has performed very well since his insertion into the starting lineup. They have, legitimately, no front court, though, and that bench that was so widely praised at the beginning of the season looks incredibly weak without Stuckey on it. Players like Aaron Afflalo, Walter Herrmann and Amir Johnson have dissapeared and have not lived up to preseason expectations. Jason Maxiell plays like a guy who received a huge contract instead of the guy who for the past couple of seasons looked like he was playing for his career. It's amazing to see how lackadaisical this team is. I don't think Flip Saunders was the problem.

16. Chicago Bulls(17) - Drew Gooden's injury is an inconvenience but the Bulls continue to play solid basketball. They may lack consistency but they're a legitimate playoff threat with Derrick Rose surprisingly playing at the current level of play he's displayed. They'll be around all season.

17. Milwaukee Bucks(20) - The Bucks have had a really solid week and have played well since Michael Redd's return from injury. They've been under the radar all season long but have to be pleased with the production that Scott Skiles has gotten out of this bunch. They're weirdly assembled but they play hard every night and that's reason enough to believe in them. Scott Skilles proves once again that he's a tremendous coach.

18. New Jersey Nets(16) - Devin Harris' performance against the Mavericks was unbelievable and New Jersey has to feel it made out like bandits with that trade. Eduardo Najera also played in that game against the Mavericks but quickly collected another DNP. They've gotten good minutes out of Ryan Anderson lately and Rod Thorn's done a good job building this team from the ground up. I can't see Vince Carter staying past the deadline if the Nets have an opportunity to trade him, and he's played well enough this season to where I can see some team taking a chance on him. They need to continue and complete the rebuilding cycle.

19. Philadelphia 76ers(21) - Well the destruction I wished on that franchise didn't happen and they've played well under new coach Tony DiLeo. Elton Brand's injury will show if this team is really better suited to run a spread out, fast court game. I think that fits the styles of their players better and I think they'll play well without Brand for a month.

20. New York Knicks(19) - Seven man rotations and no defense, D'Antoni ball is in full effect over in New York. All cheap shots aside, he's done a good job with that bunch and even though Al Harrington has cooled down considerably, Nate Robinson has picked it up with a very good week for the Knicks. They probably won't make the playoffs but the fact that people are believing they have a shot speaks for the job D'Antoni has done with this overacheiving bunch.

21. Los Angeles Clippers(23) - Marcus Camby has awoken this week and played at level that he displayed while with Denver. The Zach Randolph trade has worked out well for the Clippers but Baron Davis' play is holding this team back. You have to wonder if his priorities are in order, but I guess if you willingly sign for big money to play for the Clippers your priorities are already put into question. They can't move him, he has to work out there, but he can't continue to shoot this team out of ball games.

22. Indiana Pacers(24) - The unfortunate flu epidemic nailed the Pacers locker room and they played inspiring ball near the end of the week even though they were without three of their top four scorers in Marquis Daniels, Danny Granger and Troy Murphy. Jarrett Jack gave them a tremendous week as did T.J. Ford and overall, I'd say both Ford and Rasho Nesterovic have been nice additions to the Pacers team. They lack any kind of consistency but have talent over in Indiana. I just don't know if it will ever be fully tapped.

23. Memphis Grizzlies(22) - The Grizzlies lost both of their games in a quiet week and O.J. Mayo finally scored in single digits in a game. Yes, I know it was a quiet week in Memphis. I'd like to see Hakim Warrick start to get more minutes over in Memphis, though. He does well given the lack of opportunities he truly has.

24. Golden State Warriors(25) - Jamal Crawford single handedly got the Warriors a victory, and they're getting good production out of Marco Belinelli. Monta Ellis is gearing up to return sometimes in the next month but this team still lacks a true point guard. Hopefully, though, Ellis can return to form and give this Warriors fan base reason for excitement this season.

25. Charlotte Bobcats(27) - Boris Diaw looks rejuvenated in Larry Brown's offense and has done a fantastic job in his new starting role. Raja Bell looks unhappy in Charlotte and who can honestly blame him? Aside from that, though, the Bobcats look to be open to the thought of trading Raymond Felton. To me, it's amazing that he hasn't succeeded there but D.J. Augustin's performance is quietly pushing him out of favor with the organization.

26. Toronto Raptors(18) - The drop may be a tad drastic but this team is in awful shape. Chris Bosh is getting booed, they're losing to Oklahoma City and they don't play as a team anymore. Bryan Colangelo has truly done a bad job with this bunch but they're just not that talented to begin with. Jermaine O'Neal has done fine this season but it was fair to see all season that he just couldn't be that inside guy that Toronto truly needed. This team needs to do a lot of restructuring within the organization.

27. Sacramento Kings(26) - Reggie Theus' firing infuriated me but I'm not surprised. A team full of outcats from other organizations probably should be in playoff contention. When Brad Miller is your most consistent start you're not going to be in great shape and new coach Natt's 1-3 record since taking over isn't surprising. Theus deserved better for what he did last season and I don't think stressing that this team play hard and try to win should be overlooked simply for playing younger players and accepting poor performances.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves(28) - The Timberwolves are reeling big time and Kevin McHale is winless as Minnesota's coach. Al Jefferson is a fine player but he can't do it all by himself. This shouldn't come as a surprise as, even in his last seasons, Kevin Garnett couldn't do it by himself in Minnesota. This is a poorly run organization and the team is horribly assembled. They may never get better with McHale at the helm.

29. Washington Wizards(29) - Mike James has played well since arriving in Washington but it's made no change to their record. Who can be surprised? Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison are playing really hard and it's difficult to watch those two players fail but the organization as a whole just has no real direction. They're in a hole, too, with the contract that was given to Gilbert Arenas.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - They finally got a win this week! They're playing hard every night now, which is an upgrade, they just don't have the talent on the team to win. Kevin Durant has played fine ball since Brooks was introduced as interim coach but after him, nobody is consistent enough to really give this team a chance to win on a nightly basis. They're still a few years away.

Right now it's good to be a Hornets fan. Chris Paul is setting all time records, the team has won 11 of its last 13 games, and they have a tough stretch coming up that us Hornets fans are as excited about as any games since the beginning of the season. The Hornets had two good games at Memphis and at home against Sacramento (avenging an earlier loss to the Kings this season in New Orleans) and the week was highlighted with a humongous 4th quarter against the, then, red hot San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. It was a week that left a lot to be excited about in the Big Easy and also reason for optimism after a frustratingly inconsistent start for the team.

The week began at Memphis with the Hornets overcoming a testy and confrontational Grizzlies squad to set up the big showdown Wednesday night at home against the Spurs. The sting of a seventh game loss still affects me to this day and in no way does this loss erase that unsettling conclusion that your team's run at a championship is officially on ice. But seeing Matt Bonner and Michael Finley miss all those open shots and watching David West nail two different three point daggers sure did make me happy for one night.

But even though West played the role of a hero of sorts in Wednesday's game, his play needs to come into question. Last season, West became so consistently deadly from mid range that he's relied too much on that shot this year. Some games I'll see him roaming around the top of the key instead of doing his job as the only inside scoring presence that the Hornets have. That mid range jump shot should be an asset not a reliance. He leads the team in scoring and his play is so critical to the organization that the Hornets simply can't rely on him shooting 40% for the week. He needs to be more effecient for this team to reach that ultimate goal of a championship.

Morris Peterson came back in a big way Saturday night against the Kings. His 10 points were all critical baskets and I still believe his play is going to be critical for this team down the stretch. I'd like to see him play his way back into the rotation. I love what Devin Brown brings to the team, but with Peja Stojakovic out I'd much rather have Rasual Butler and Peterson starting and have Devin Brown play off of the bench. Speaking of Peja's injury, how on Earth did that happen? He went from hitting a crucial three point dagger against Memphis to surprisingly missing the game against San Antonio and then missing the game against the Kings as well. His injury was extremely surprising and for a majority of that Spurs game his presence was definitely missed. Even if he struggles at the three point line, you know he's a threat and people were playing off of Devin Brown on the perimeter. The Hornets need Peja in order to succeed.

What's happened to Melvin Ely? Is Sean Marks really that better of an option than Ely is? Marks has never contributed consistently on a team and he looks lost out there at times. Ely is every bit as effecient offensively as Marks is and I don't see the point of having Marks getting the big minutes. He even logged more minutes than Hilton Armstrong the game against the Kings. I'm not one to question Byron Scott, but I just don't get it.

The Hornets have an extremely tough week on the brink, with games at home against the Lakers, at the Magic on Christmas Day and against the Rockets at home on Friday night. That three game in four day stretch will end on Sunday at Indiana against a Pacers team that has shown it can beat the top teams in the league. It's a challenging upcoming week for the Hornets, but it's a week that should be fun to watch. Until next week.

1. Boston Celtics(1) - This team is absolutely on a roll and every bit as dominant as last season's champions were. Kendrick Perkins is a force down there in the middle and the bench, despite Kevin Garnett's in game criticism, is fantastic. Players like Glen Davis, Eddie House and Leon Powe have spearheaded a very fun team over in Boston.

2. Los Angeles Lakers(2) - A quiet week for the Lakers, despite their loss to Sacramento. They seem to be in cruise control at the moment and aren't as smooth and dominant as they were at the beginning of the season, but they're still winning and are still 20-3. I was surprised by Luke Walton's promotion to the starting lineup, and even though coach Phil Jackson stresses Vladimir Radmanovic is not in the doghouse, the team's depth at the small forward position may leave him on the outside looking in. Something to keep an eye on.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers(3) - A loss at Atlanta keeps this team from jumping up in the rankings but they're still playing fantastic ball and are still looking every bit as talented as both Boston and the Lakers. I understand and agree with the high praise for Dwyane Wade but LeBron James is currently in another atmosphere. He's playing tremendous ball and they're getting great production out of everyone else on the team. Zydrunas Ilgauskas' injury is something to keep an eye on but the team is still playing good ball.

4. Orlando Magic(4) - They've solidified their spot with a fantastic road trip this week. Tough wins at Portland and Utah couldn't be overshadowed by a tough, last second loss without Dwight Howard to Phoenix. Rashard Lewis is carrying this team currently and even with Hedo Turkoglu playing inconsistent ball, they continue to quietly win and that seems to be enough for them.

5. Denver Nuggets(5) - Carmelo Anthony is currently on fire. His 33 points in one quarter against Minnesota on Wednesday was the highlight of a quiet two game week for the Nuggets. This team continues to roll along with Chauncey Billups and are even getting good minutes out of their big men. Their lack of depth and inconsistent production out of those 4 and 5 positions may do them in but currently it's not so you have to keep them up here.

6. San Antonio Spurs(11) - Yeah they've shot up here quickly and the San Antonio Spurs have arrived. This team's offense is clicking and just as quickly as Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili returned this team has reeled off a string of successive victories. They're going to be in the race all season and their slow start seems like it was years ago.

7. Atlanta Hawks(8) - Mike Bibby has played like his former self here lately and has eased some of the pressure off of Joe Johnson. The team's getting healthy and a big, impressive win over Cleveland helped the Hawks get some of their much deserved recognition.

8. New Orleans Hornets(9) - Friday's dissapointing third quarter at Boston has taken some eyes off of the fact that the Hornets have been highly successful the past three weeks. Tyson Chandler's stiff neck is room for concern but if he can return at full force the Hornets can work at reclaiming the spot they held last season.

9. Houston Rockets(9) - That loss to the Clippers was embarassing but we'll give them a break since they were without Ron Artest. The fact that Yao Ming has been the most consistently healthy out of the big three this season is room for concern but the team has stayed up around the top ten all season long and continue to play solid, cohesive ball.

10. Utah Jazz(10) - They looked great against Portland but couldn't take care of business against the Dwight Howard-less Magic at home. They still look like the class of their division but seem to be lacking something so far. Even though Paul Millsap continues to prove his early season production is no fluke, they're better suited with Carlos Boozer and need him to return.

11. Portland Trail Blazers(6) - The Blazer's big drop was more one of those "everyone else around you" situations more than their actual play, though their play hasn't been very inspiring this week. Brandon Roy has been amazing this season but aside from him, nobody else can consistently keep up. This team is deep but they're unpredictable. All of this will change as the season goes on as this team just needs to grow.

12. Dallas Mavericks(12) - You inhale and take a step back, and the Mavericks are right there. Again. Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry are shouldering the load but they usually get somebody different to step up every single night. I'm pleased to see the increase in Brandon Bass' minutes and think he's more important to that team than his production shows. Carlisle needs to utilize him a little better.

13. Detroit Pistons(14) - Right now in Motown, there's no such thing as bad wins. This team is still trying (months later) to transition into the Allen Iverson era and even though their victory over the Charlotte lacked punch, this team has lost bad games and the fact that they won needs to be acknowledged moreso than how they won. Tayshaun Prince has fallen off big time since Iverson's arrival and I'm not sure if this small lineup that has him at the power forward position is going to help that, but Antonio McDyess' return gives this team some more front court depth. Rodney Stuckey has done great with the starting role, but you have to move either Iverson or Richard Hamilton to the bench. Their lineup stands no chance in the postseason.

14. Phoenix Suns(15) - I'm one of the few that doesn't like the arrival of Jason Richardson in Phoenix but I'm going to give it some time. The loss of two important role players in Raja Bell and Boris Diaw (regardless of fickle fans' loss of interest in the two) will hurt the team just as the loss of McDyess did to Detroit. Richardson is a scorer, but not much else, and I'm not too sure if he was any kind of missing piece to anything. Looks like a desperate move by Steve Kerr to me.

16. Miami Heat(16) - Dwyane Wade is trying to do it all by himself, but they can't get anyone else to step up and compliment the spectacular season the former Finals MVP is having. Coach Spoelstra and Wade actually have this team overacheiving but they should still stay above average all season long.

16. New Jersey Nets(13) - Welcome back to Earth, Nets. Vince Carter's 0 for 13 performance against Toronto highlighted a woeful week for the Nets. They've played over their heads this year but have been too good for me to drop them too far. I like what they're currently getting out of Brook Lopez.

17. Chicago Bulls(18) - I'm a little dissapointed in the season Joakim Noah is having for the Bulls as I felt with last season's late surge he would carry that over into this year but he seems to be lackadaisical at times out there. Ben Gordon and Derrick Rose are night in and night out doing it for Chicago and they have to be pleased with the recent production out of Drew Gooden. By the way, I like Luol Deng but they have to be displeased with his production given the contract that he received this offseason.

18. Toronto Raptors(19) - This team has responded well to coach Triano and played some inspired ball this week. Jose Calderon has been solid this season, but so much more was expected after last season. He has struggled as the team's second option although he's still putting up the same numbers as last year. I'm surprised with Andrea Bargnani's decrease in minutes lately and wonder if the Raptors will look to move him at the deadline.

19. New York Knicks(17) - A Jerome James sighting! D'Antoni has finally started to play more than 7 people (it's too early for his typical short rotation) and the team got Jared Jeffries back this week. He's not a great player in any category but is versatile enough to where I could see him succeeding in D'Antoni's system. It was sad to see Cuttino Mobely to retire. He was always a classy guy and a fantastic shooter. His lefty release always looked like it was going in. I give best wishes to him and hope the enlarged heart condition doesn't substantially shorten his life.

20. Milwaukee Bucks(21) - Andrew Bogut and Richard Jefferson have been solid in the starting lineup for the Bucks this season. Ramon Sessions has quieted a little bit recently but this team still has stayed around .500 all year. They're not great in any facet of the game, but they're well coached and are solid in all areas. They're a fun team to follow.

21. Philadelphia 76ers(20) - The firing of Maurice Cheeks was pathetic. It's a shame that a team that gave an injured, overweight Elton Brand that type of money can blame Cheeks for being unable to work Brand into an offense that's better suited in the open court. Ed Stefanski should be ashamed of himself and I hope to see bad karma visit this team the rest of the season.

22. Memphis Grizzlies(26) - Don't look now, but outside of Boston and San Antonio, the hottest team in the league is the Memphis Grizzlies! Benching Rudy Gay seemed to spark the team a bit and they're even getting solid minutes out of Darko Milicic this week. O.J. Mayo has been nothing short out of tremendous this year and lately has played like the best rookie in the league. And that's no shot on Derrick Rose, just high praise for Mayo.

23. Los Angeles Clippers (27) - For one week, the Clippers were the team I thought they would be this season. With great wins over Portland and Houston this week, the Clippers looked like a talented cohesive team and like a team that could hang with the league's best. It's probably fools gold as far as the record is concerned, but Zach Randolph continues to be the team's best player and Al Thornton looks like a great player to build around for the next couple of seasons. For one week at least, Clipper land!

24. Indiana Pacers(22) - Their inconsistency and inability to get over the hump is killing me. Danny Granger is seemingly doing it by himself but this team is just bland all around. I had picked them to make the poseason this year, and they still may make a run at it, but they're lacking some serious energy and excitement on this team. This organization still needs that shot in the arm.

25. Golden State Warriors(24) - The Warriors won a couple games this week and that's reason for excitement in the bay area. Corey Maggette may be ruled out indefinitely and his scoring may be missed, but he hasn't seemed like much of a fit out there on that team. Kelenna Azubuike deserves a little bit of praise for his performance this season. It further heightens why teams showed interest in him in the offseason.

26. Sacramento Kings(28) - A victory over the Lakers gives this team a nice little boost and shows that they can still play hard for Reggie Theus. Kevin Martin is back to missing games after his short return and you have to wonder how serious that injury is. Brad Miller will most likely be gone by midseason and this team is still two years (including this one) away from being taken serious as postseason contenders.

27. Charlotte Bobcats(23) - I know I bashed Phoenix for the Richardson trade, but it's not as if I like it any better for the Bobcats. They lack scoring and, again, Michael Jordan is running an organization where pieces just don't fit. You can't make things work. His lack of dedication kills this team and the front office is so infatuated with his name that they won't properly evaluate his job. After all, if they did he would not have gotten the job in the first place after that fiasco in Washington.

28. Minnesota Timberwolves(25) - Memo to Kevin McHale, improve this team or be shown the exit. Randy Wittman was let go this week and McHale now steps up. He was solid in the 2005 season but he's not that much of a coach. Al Jefferson, Randy Foye and Kevin Love (three players McHale has traded for) have all played better under McHale but I don't know if they can be enough for McHale to keep his job. Or rightfully keep his job anyways.

29. Washington Wizards(29) - Caron Butler is wasting away over there in Washington and their team's response to their struggles was not addressing their extremely small and thin frontcourt, but was instead a decision to add Mike James and Javaris Crittenton to a team that boasts a bunch of run of the mill guards in the first place. I'd like to see Crittenton to get an opportunity to flourish but this situation is no different from his situation in Memphis.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - Finally Kevin Durant is grabbing some rebounds and playing some down in the post. He's too talented to let his game be jump shooting and taking possesions off on defense. Jeff Green has been tremendous this week and I was surprised at Russell Westbrook being benched today. They're playing more competitive lately and the talk of them being unable to win 9 games this season is ludicrous. They'll win at least 10 games this season and this team is talented, just extremely raw. They need more time.

1. Boston Celtics(2) - And with the Lake show's loss to Indiana this week, the Celtics now have the best record in the league and the top spot in the power rankings (couldn't have come sooner for you devout Boston fans). Rajon Rondo has played like a beast this season and has an outside shot at making the all star team.

2. Los Angeles Lakers(1) - A loss at Indiana knocks them down but they're still rolling along at 17-2 (that record matches the Lakers' best 19 game start in team history). Nobody on this team is really starring, similar to Boston, even though they have the best records in the league, but Pau Gasol's play deserves recognition. He's a perfect match for that offense and even moreso now that he gets to play his more natural power forward position.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers(3) - The Cavaliers continue to win games and are currently undefeated at home. They're getting good minutes out of J.J. Hickson lately which is encouraging for what is perceived as a weak frontline. Daniel Gibson has been lights out this season, which is nice to see even though he received a new contract in the offseason.

4. Orlando Magic(5) - Even though they got blown out at Boston Friday night, this team has been steady all season long. Jameer Nelson is back now and they're rolling as steadily and as quietly as they did last season.

5. Denver Nuggets(4) - J.R. Smith and George Karl aren't even on speaking terms which is sad because this is now the second coach that has gotten fed up with Smith's antics. You hate to see that kind of talent go to waste because of an attitude and he's crucial to the team's ultimate success. It's something to keep an eye on.

6. Portland Trail Blazers(6) - Even though they're not getting the best minutes out of Greg Oden this team still continues to chug along. Brandon Roy is currently playing like a top five or ten player in the league. He's doing a little bit of everything and they're getting solid production out of a young bench as well. This team's progression should be fun to watch and whether or not the maturation continues to a level that allows them to make the playoffs is something to keep track of.

7. Houston Rockets(7) - Even without Tracy McGrady, the Rockets continue to chug along. Rafer Alston has stepped up in McGrady's absence and Yao Ming has been dominant in the post this week. They need McGrady ultimately (of course) but currently his injury won't rock this team too hard.

8. Atlanta Hawks(9) - Getting Josh Smith back was huge for this team but Al Horford's injury is something to keep an eye on. This team continues to hover around the top ten regardless of everyone waiting for them to fall off the face of the Earth. Mike Woodson has done a great job so far this season.

9. New Orleans Hornets(11) - The Hornets have quietly won six of their last seven and are starting to get production out of Peja Stojakovic. They still lack that solid chemistry they had last season but they're starting to play the same, exciting, brand of basketball they displayed last season.

10. Utah Jazz(8) - Even though Paul Millsap is playing out of his mind, this team still misses Carlos Boozer. Matt Harpring and Andrei Kirilenko are coming back from injuries and this team still needs to get fully healthy before we can critique their wildly inconsistent start to the season.

11. San Antonio Spurs(13) - Don't look now, but the Spurs are relatively healthy and the offense looks fluent. Tim Duncan is playing solid basketball but that should come as a surprise to no one. Surprisingly, this team is getting great production out of Matt Bonner and Bruce Bowen is finding himself deeper on the bench as the games go on. You have to wonder how much he may have left in the tank at his age.

12. Dallas Mavericks(16) - The Mavericks are surging and (as mentioned on last week's rankings) Jose Juan Barea is looking great with an increase in minutes. I'm not positive that the team's season long search for a starting shooting guard ends with Barea, as a lineup starting he and Jason Kidd in the backcourt is extremely small, but it's working for the moment.

13. New Jersey Nets(14) - This team is still playing a fun, inspiring brand of basketball and Devin Harris continues to play out of his mind, even with the increase in recognition lately. They are missing Eduardo Najera and when he gets back he will bring even more grit and determination to the league's hardest working team.

14. Detroit Pistons(11) - This is going to sound harsh, but Rasheed Wallace is the biggest waste of talent in recent memory. He is an incredibly gifted player but his lack of motivation and intensity holds him back and this season it's holding this Pistons squad back. Allen Iverson is doing what he can (and he's not the problem) but this team lacks a serious frontcourt and as a result they're getting taken advantage of on the defensive side of the ball, which isn't normal for a Pistons squad.

15. Phoenix Suns(10) - For the first time this season, the Suns fall out of the top ten and they do it with a thud. The team seems dysfunctional and so far, even though their record is better than it probably should be, the players have already turned on Terry Porter. Steve Kerr has disrupted this organization. They would never have won a championship with D'Antoni's gimmick offense but at least they were fun, productive and marketable. They're tough to watch, follow and get a grip on this season.

16. Miami Heat(18) - They finally turn out a consistent week and they get a nice rise up in the rankings this week. I like the move of Michael Beasley to the bench and I'm surprised Mario Chalmers is every bit as productive in his rookie season as Beasley has been this season.

17. New York Knicks(15) - Al Harrington has put up good numbers since coming over but this team still will take a couple of weeks before they hit the stride that's going to carry them the rest of this season. Chris Duhon hasn't been all that bad of an acquisition, even though the signing was widely ridiculed (even by myself).

18. Chicago Bulls(19) - Larry Hughes has been amazing off of the bench this season since returning from his injury, but he's always been wildly inconsistent with his jump shot (that he loves more than he should) and I look for his production to dip slightly in the coming weeks. As long as Ben Gordon is playing as well as he is, I look for him to stay in the starter's role but, ultimately, he should wind up back as the team's 6th man.

19. Toronto Raptors(17) - Teams are starting to swarm and hound Chris Bosh and as a result his numbers were down this week. Jermaine O'Neal's return from injury may help but he's not the player he once was, and ultimately this team looks like a mismatch of players. I don't think Sam Mitchell, as incompetent as he may have seemed, was the reason for this team's failures and I believe he was a scapegoat by the team and the fans who didn't want to blame Bryan Colangelo and the players for the team underacheiving. We'll see if Triano does any better.

20. Philadelphia 76ers(20) - The team got a solid victory at Detroit without Elton Brand and have to be happy with the Lou Williams sightings we've had this week. Andre Iguodala played more like Andre Iguodala without Elton Brand in the lineup and you have to wonder if the catering to Brand is keeping this team from running the offense they're better suited to.

21. Milwaukee Bucks(21) - Michael Redd returned today after missing the final 14 games against the Lakers and it will take some time for him to get reacclimated to the team's flow. I'm not sure what his return brings as this team's chemsitry has been off this season. Overall, they may be better without Redd in the lineup.

22. Indiana Pacers(22) - This Pacers team boasts victories now over both the Lakers and Celtics but still lack the consistency that should keep them in the playoff race. The loss of Mike Dunleavy keeps this team from being fairly judged but I'm surprised they've waited around this long for his arrival this season.

23. Charlotte Bobcats(24) - The Bobcats were burried in these very rankings two weeks ago but they've played a very fun brand of basketball here lately. This team should look for a center around the deadline which would allow Emeka Okafor to play at a more productive power forward position.

24. Golden State Warriors(25) - The Warriors continue to find new ways to lose but they've been competitive in a majority of the games they've played this season. Stephen Jackson has been tremendous this season but you have to wonder how long he's going to maintain his composure even as the losses pile up. Brandan Wright has responded well with the increase in minutes here as of late.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves(23) - Kevin Love has played encouraging ball this week and has shown some of the promise that prompted Kevin McHale to trade O.J. Mayo for him. Overall, the trade probably won't work in their favor but that doesn't mean Love won't be a productive player. I just don't see how he and Jefferson are going to work together.

26. Memphis Grizzlies(27) - O.J. Mayo has been tremendous this season and Rudy Gay hasn't lost a step from his breakout season last year, but this team still lacks a great player that could put them into contention for a low seed in the western confrence. The money they've spent on players like Darko Milicic and that is being wasted on Marko Jaric and Antoine Walker could be put to better use and I think that's reason enough to have high hopes for the future in Memphis.

27. Los Angeles Clippers(28) - Don't look now but the Clippers got a victory with Zach Randolph in the lineup. Baron Davis's return home has been extremely underwhelming and honestly this team lacks any sort of identity; other than that of a team that loses each and every year regardless of talent on the team, people running the show or whatever personnel changes that are being made.

28. Sacramento Kings(26) - This team has been dreadful to watch lately and rumor has it that Reggie Theus' job is on the line. I don't see how he could be the one to blame because, after all, this team isn't very talented. He got the most out of a bad squad this season and with the injuries and whatnot this season he's done what he can with a lackluster bunch. I'd like to see him stay but coaches being made into scapegoats is a prominent theme in sports at the moment.

29. Washington Wizards(29) - The offense looks more fluent under Ed Tapscott and lately they've gotten good production out of the inconsistent Andray Blatche. There's still not much worth getting excited in our nation's capital, despite the insane amount of money that's going to show up on that payroll.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - Russell Westbrook took the starting job and put in a very good week for the Thunder. Players like Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox will most likely be moved but neither of those is worth a lot in return, so the Thunder may be looking at more mediocrity for the foreseeable future as well.

1. Los Angeles Lakers(1) - They've been number one all season long, and even though a part of me really wants to move them behind Boston, I simply can't. They've been winning, they've been winning consistently and they've been winning with a new player stepping up every night (ironically, the same can be said about Boston). They, though, have been great since the start of the season and I can't move them behind Boston. Not yet.

2. Boston Celtics(2) - Kevin Garnett is having probably his quitest season. Paul Pierce has been wildly inconsistent and Ray Allen's been a steady version of last year's diminished Ray Allen, yet this team continues to win. Kendrick Perkins and Rajon Rondo, the two unheralded starters, are giving this team quality starts and they compliment what the big three do so well. Perkins' game has really improved this season.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers(3) - I hear people asking "who have they beat", well they've only lost 3 times this season-all on the road. A mark of a good team is winning games that you're supposed to win and that's what the Cavaliers are doing. Charles Barkley is right in saying that LeBron James needs to shut it and start diverting all of his attention to the game and to his team, but a part of me believes that LeBron is more infatuated with the money and stardom than he is actual results on the court, which is why he'll always be a notch behind Kobe Bryant.

4. Denver Nuggets(4) - Even though they had a dissapointing loss at home to New Orleans on Thursday, this team continues to chug along with Chauncey Billups in the lineup. This past week J.R. Smith really heated up and if he regains the form he had for much of last season then this team can only get better. Chris Andersen coming back helps, but he can't be a savior for this frontcourt.

5. Orlando Magic(6) - Rashard Lewis is starting to play really good ball (even if you would like to see better rebounding numbers out of someone his size) and Dwight Howard is improving on his free throw shooting. Losing Mickael Pietrus for three weeks will hurt but this team continues to do what they did last year, quietly win ball games.

6. Portland Trail Blazers(9) - I got some criticism putting them as high as I have the past couple of weeks but they proved me right this week. Brandon Roy is one of the hottest players in the league and they're getting great production out of players like Travis Outlaw and Joel Przybilla. They're deep and they're talented.

7. Houston Rockets(5) - They get Shane Battier back and now Tracy McGrady is having problems with his knee (he's looked dinged up all season, what with his shoulder and whatnot). They are still winning, though, and they're doing it without any of their players playing consistently great ball. Luther Head has stepped up the past couple of games, but Adelman's system allows this team to make up for whoever is struggling on that given night. That's the sign of a good team.

8. Utah Jazz(8) - They had a bad loss to New Jersey but Deron Williams is slowly regaining some of the form he showed last season. It's slow, but steady, progress. Meanwhile, Paul Millsap has been outstanding in Carlos Boozer's absence and you have to believe he's going to see an amazing increase in minutes even when Boozer comes back.

9. Atlanta Hawks(10) - They're getting better play out of Mike Bibby (which is good because teams are starting to double Joe Johnson consistently) and they're surprisingly getting great contribution from Maurice Evans lately. This team just continues to stay around.

10. Phoenix Suns(7) - I've had this team high all season but the intensity and execution they showed the first couple of games has worn off and the honeymoon period has already ended in Phoenix. Amare Stoudemire is now complaining about coach Terry Porter's system and the team is searching for an identity all over again. A tailspin may be in this team's future.

11. Detroit Pistons(11) - Allen Iverson is already missing practice and Rasheed Wallace continues to jack up three pointers. Michael Curry was supposed to bring needed change in attitudes in Detroit but the players and player styles and attitudes continue to hold this talented team back. They should be in better shape than they currently in.

12. New Orleans Hornets(12) - A good win at Denver and a quiet four game winning streak have gotten the Hornets back on track, but they still need some consistent ball out of anyone not named Chris Paul.

13. San Antonio Spurs(19) - Despite the loss to Houston, this team is above .500, they're getting good production out of their young players, and both Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are back. Those pesky Spurs just never go away.

14. New Jersey Nets(17) - People said I had them too high last week, I probably have them too high this week, but they're playing tremendous basketball. Devin Harris has played tremendous basketball so far this season and he and Vince Carter have consistently been there every night. They're supporting cast is hit and miss but they're getting a different person to contribute each and every night.

15. New York Knicks(14) - They need to get this Stephon Marbury situation over and done with, because it's clouding what's been a good season so far for the Knicks. David Lee has played great and Tim Thomas has been lights out since coming over from Clipper land. His best season came with D'Antoni in Phoenix, though, and his increase in production doesn't surprise me, and it won't surprise me when his production dips.

16. Dallas Mavericks(18) - There's not a hotter player in the NBA, currently, than Jason Terry and he's keeping this team afloat lately. They still can't get consistent production out of the small forward position and aside from Terry they can't really get an answer at shooting guard either, but Jose Juan Barrera looks like a solid backup at the point guard position.

17. Toronto Raptors(21) - They turned a horrible last week into a solid week this week until they ran into the Lake show. Chris Bosh has been outstanding this season and currently there's not a better big man in the league. They're getting great play out of Andrea Bargnani lately which is very encouraging, though the injury to Jermaine O'Neal isn't.

18. Miami Heat(13) - The Heat have been wildly inconsistent this season and it has to be frustrating for any Heat fan to watch this team win one, and then lose the very next game but at the same time they have to be happy with Dwyane Wade's production. This team is still relatively young and still has room to improve and should probably be around the playoff picture all season long.

19. Chicago Bulls(20) - All things considered, I believe Vinny Del Negro has done a solid job with this team. They're slowly starting to get healthier (and will be better when Kirk Hinrich returns) but they still are an inconsistent bunch. Drew Gooden has played well lately and Luol Deng is slowly returning to form as well.

20. Philadelphia 76ers(15) - Andre Iguodala has played like a guy with a fat new contract, in other words he's definitely underperformed but I think with the offense having to adjust to the half court offense that Elton Brand flourishes in takes away from the strengths of both Iguodala and Andre Miller. Maurice Cheeks needs to succeed this season if he wants to keep his job and it looks increasingly difficult for him to do.

21. Milwaukee Bucks(16) - They're struggling without Andrew Bogut but Richard Jefferson is quietly having a solid season. Charlie Villanueva has put up good number this season but still hasn't brought it consistently like he should in a contract year. He needs to develop a solid game and put that tremendous talent to use but he plays like a small forward and is too slow to play that position. He should look at a player like David West and try to emulate a version of his game and then he can fully reach his potential.

22. Indiana Pacers(22) - The Pacers are puzzling because they just can't seem to get over that hump and win basketball games. Danny Granger has been great, proving last year was no fluke, and Marquis Daniels has continued to play encouraging ball but they can't seem to get going as a unit. Early in the season it was T.J. Ford playing while everyone else was struggling and now Ford has lot a step lately. They need to get it together and I believe they will in the coming month.

23. Minnesota Timberwolves(25) - It feels weird putting them this high but I believe they're the best out of all of the lower tier teams. Sebastian Telfair has been a steady force at point guard with Randy Foye and Mike Miller has had a couple of good games lately. They won't make the playoffs, but winning nearly 30 games this season would be a huge step in the right direction for this squad.

24. Charlotte Bobcats(27) - Jason Richardson has returned and rumors are circling whether or not he will be shopped around. Gerald Wallace has also been rumored to be out the door lately as well and this team looks to be in questionable shape. D.J. Augustin has continued to play great and looks to be the best draft pick the team has made, which is ironic because he was not drafted at a position that needed filling and therefore his selection was criticized.

25. Golden State Warriors(24) - This team has been stuck in reverse all season long and they have to be hoping that when Monta Ellis returns they will make some progress this season because this team is young and in need of a step in the right dirction. Andris Biedrins has cooled off lately and Jamal Crawford, though a need at guard, can't run the offense like they need someone to.

26. Sacramento Kings(23) - This team is reeling and is doing so in a hurry. Even with Mikki Moore's return, this team still needs Kevin Martin as he's not only their best player, he's the team's leader. John Salmons will be a great running mate when Martin returns and if Beno Udrih plays as well as he has without Martin in the lineup then this team can take off. Until then they will continue to struggle.

27. Memphis Grizzlies(26) - The team is slowly reaching irrelevance again and they're really struggling to find ways to win basketball games. I don't think coach Marc Iavaroni has any chance to retain his job which is sad as he was once a promising candidate around the league.

28. Los Angeles Clippers(28) - Zach Randolph was a good acquisition and Al Thornton has played as well as he did last season but this team is missing something. I don't know what it is, but I think this team would be making a horrible mistake in ridding themselves of Chris Kaman. Even though he and Randolph don't mesh well, Kaman is a better player than Randolph and is a much better player than Marcus Camby. They should find a way to keep him on this roster even though they could get a lot for him. Eric Gordon has played great this week.

29. Washington Wizards(29) - As predicted last week, Eddie Jordan was fired but nothing has changed with this team. They have Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler and not much past those two players. Because of the guaranteed contracts, this team is in such a deep hole that they're going to be stuck in this position for the next few seasons and may lose their best player (Butler) soon.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - The 14 game losing streak is over and Kevin Durant and Jeff Green have played great ball this week. The offense looks a lot more fluid with Scott Brooks running the show. Why is Earl Waton still starting and how many chances is this team going to give themselves to draft a productive center in the lottery?

1. Los Angeles Lakers(1) - I really thought about dropping them behind Boston but I can't if they don't lose. They continue to get production out of a ton of players. Kobe Bryant may be having the quitest 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists start to any season.

2. Boston Celtics(2) - The Celtics would probably be 1a but since 1a isn't a number I'm going to put them here at number two. They're getting tremendous production out of their bench with Leon Powe, Tony Allen, Eddie House and even Brian Scalabrine putting in quality minutes. They not only boast one of the best starting fives in the league, they're incredibly deep as well.

3. Cleveland Cavaliers(3) - Even though they lost at Detroit the team continues to chug along and has looked good so far this season. Mo Williams is starting to bring his offensive production up and he's looked like a solid acquisition so far in the young season. This team is actually fun to watch and I think they're going to be a tough out for anybody in the postseason. By the way, what's all this talk about LeBron James leaving? You have all these teams gearing up to get him, when the team he's on will probably be in the best position to win. I don't see him going anywhere.

4. Denver Nuggets(7) - Nene has quietly had a great season and although this may seem high to some, this team has been absolutely lights out with Chauncey Billups on board. If they continue to get production of Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith, that gives them two dynamic options off the bench and with Kenyon Martin playing as he is this team should be in good shape. I still think they could use frontcourt help if they're to advance deep into the postseason.

5. Houston Rockets(8) - The Rockets turned out a solid week. Aaron Brooks continues to play amazing ball and Tracy McGrady just quietly hits big shots. In the regular season at least. Yao Ming missing a game is cause for concern and is something to keep an eye on.

6. Orlando Magic(5) - There's been a J.J. Reddick sighting. I don't know how this team wins but they do. Dwight Howard had a tough week and Rashard Lewis is struggling shooting the ball but they still churn out victories. That's impressive enough to keep them as high as they are.

7. Phoenix Suns(4) - They drop by virtue of the two tough losses they suffered this week. Shaquille O'Neal continues to have a productive season and they're getting good minutes out of Grant Hill lately. They need Leandro Barbosa back and when he returns their bench will greatly compliment the production the starters have given.

8. Utah Jazz(9) - Andrei Kirilenko is playing some really good ball off the bench and C.J. Miles has looked great this week. They're going to get Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer back this week, and that alone keeps the team in the top ten. They need to get a solid, set rotation and start to gel and when they do they'll return to top Jazz form.

9. Portland Trail Blazers(12) - Portland is playing some great ball. Brandon Roy has picked up his all star form and even though Greg Oden's production has slipped the past couple of games, he's looked great off of the bench since returning from his injury. They're doing all this while LaMarcus Aldridge is in a shooting slump and when he returns to form it will only make them better.

10. Atlanta Hawks(10) - Marvin Williams has slowly showed why the Hawks chose him 2nd overall over both Chris Paul and Deron Williams. It may still be a bad move, but the guy's talented and he's playing some good ball. Joe Johnson continues to perform and they're even getting good minutes out of Acie Law. They have a solid, if inconsistent, bench.

11. Detroit Pistons(6) - That whoopin' they took at Boston ruined all momentum they had gained after the Allen Iverson trade. They followed that up by getting thrashed at home by Minnesota and the Pistons are back to square one. I don't doubt they'll climb out the hole, I just wish they wouldn't keep falling back in it. At least Rasheed Wallace has come to play, but Tayshaun Prince has cooled after his hot start and Richard Hamilton looks out of sync. It's still early, though, and this team is still the Pistons. You never can count them out.

13. Miami Heat(17) - Dwyane Wade is playing like a mad man and there's been a Shawn Marion sighting this week. If they continue to get great production out of those two the other stuff should fall into place. They're recommitting themselves to the defensive end, as well, and you like to see Wade performing at the level that he is.

14. New York Knicks(13) - I'm not too sure what to make out of the moves that they made, other than they've given up on this season. Al Harrington, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas all fit into D'Antoni's system but I don't think they're as good as the players they let go. I thought there was an outside shot they'd make the postseason, but why fight to make the playoffs when you can build for a championship? That looks to be Donnie Walsh's approach. Things are at least interesting again (for all the right reasons) in New York.

15. Philadelphia 76ers(18) - Well Kareem Rush isn't going to single handedly make the Sixers a three point threat and they still can't shoot the long ball. There may not be a better rebounding team in the NBA, but with those jump shooters they get plent of opportunities. Elton Brand hasn't produced as he was expected to so far this season but he hit a big shot against his old team this week. He followed that up with a solid game today and we'll see if he builds off of that.

16. Milwaukee Bucks(19) - Andrew Bogut and Ramon Sessions are playing great basketball. They've played solid ball this season and all of it without Michael Redd for a majority of the season. Maybe he could be used as trade bait as I'm sure his value is still relatively high. They could get some nice building blocks for now and for the future in return for Redd, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute (I spelled that without clarifying and I hope it's right) has been the most surprising rookie this season. What a find in the 2nd round!

17. New Jersey Nets(20) - Don't look now but Vince Carter is having a tremendous season so far. Devin Harris has been perfect in the sidekick role as well, and even though the rest of the team is so inconsistent, they find themselves at .500 for the season. Impressive job by Lawrence Frank.

18. Dallas Mavericks(25) - The Mavericks went undefeated this week so I probably should move them up higher, but I'm still relatively unimpressed after looking at their competition. Still, Dirk Nowitzki is playing tremendous basketball (what else is new) and Rick Carlisle finally has the team clicking on offense. They just are so bland as a franchise and organization, though. I doubt the Mark Cuban fiasco will be a distraction, but it has the potential to be.

19. San Antonio Spurs(15) - It was a quiet week for the Spurs, but they looked impressive against a depleted Utah team and received word that Manu Ginobili may be coming back earlier than expected. I'm not sure what to make of that news, as I thought he was supposed to be waiting until he was fully healthy, that way he'd be in top form for the stretch run. They're playing admirably without him, I see no need to rush him. George Hill looks like another one of those Spurs finds in the draft.

20. Chicago Bulls(16) - Luol Deng is the latest to bite the injury bug in Chicago. Although Ben Gordon had a slow week, Derrick Rose continues to perform beyond his experience. History tells us he'll tail off but I don't see it. Larry Hughes came back this week as well, adding some depth to a backcourt that was so depleted it signed Lindsey Hunter for insurance.

21. Toronto Raptors(14) - Even with tremendous weeks from Anthony Parker and Andrea Bargnani this team is continuing to struggle. Bargnani is out of place starting at the 3 spot and although Chris Bosh continues to flourish, I question the direction and overall makeup of this team. I'm not sure what to make of them as a squad as I've thought of them highly and at the moment think of them poorly. They need to develop consistency and find a way to build that team around Chris Bosh and do it quickly, or else he may be out the door.

23. Sacramento Kings(21) - John Salmons has looked terrific in Kevin Martin's absence. A win at New Orleans this week is the only thing that keeps me from pointing at their slow decline, but injuries have hit hard in Sac-town. Mikkie Moore and Kevin Martin will come back soon and when they do I look for this team to continue to be a thorn in the opposition's side.

24. Golden State Warriors(23) - Now that Al Harrington is gone and Jamaal Crawford is coming in, this team improved both the clubhouse and the talent level on the squad. Anthony Morrow cooled considerably after a great two game stretch early in the week, but if he brings half of that production backing up Crawford then this team will be in good position to make some sort of run around mid to late December.

25. Minnesota Timberwolves(29) - A good week for Minnesota as they pick up two wins and get a good game from Randy Foye. Al Jefferson is as steady as they come and they looked impressive in that game at Detroit. I'm not too sure what to make of their last two first round draft picks (Kevin Love and Corey Brewer) but maybe I'm being too harsh when I say they look like good players who were taken too high in the lottery.

26. Memphis Grizzlies(26) - Well the hot start to the season that the Grizzlies had is the only thing saving their season. O.J. Mayo is this year's Kevin Durant (as far as putting up good rookie numbers on a bad team) and Rudy Gay hasn't been as commanding as he was last season. They're not getting much production past Marc Gasol in the front court but we didn't expect them to get much either.

27. Charlotte Bobcats(24) - Larry Brown has to be kicking himself in the head. This organization has been badly mishandled, from the placement (why you would give a town that failed it's previous franchise another franchise befuddles me, especially when you see them failing this team as well) to the operation of the franchise (Michael Jordan being in any executive position disallows us from taking them serious), to the production of the players (D.J. Augustin is the only reason to get excited in Charlotte) and you have all the makings of another, dissapointing season in Charlotte. You have to wonder when the Bobcats will make the turn.

28. Los Angeles Clippers(28) - Chris Kaman has played just as strongly as he did last season but he and Zach Randolph have similar games. Both are good low post, back to the basket type players (although Kaman is much better) and I'm not sure how they'll fit together. I also don't know where this puts Marcus Camby in the rotation as well but I guess we'll have to watch it all unfold. I don't think there's any chance of Mike Dunleavy finishing this season.

29. Washington Wizards(27) - So irrelevant I almost forgot them. There's not much to be said about this team and there's not much of a chance Eddie Jordan sticks around. Not when Gilbert Arenas is already calling for a tank job and with the rest of the squad being worthy of a last place finish. They are awful to watch.

30. Oklahoma City Thunder(30) - They become the first team this season to fire a head coach and although I like P.J., he outstayed his welcome. The team looked uninspired under him and they played with a little fire under new coach Scott Brooks. Russell Westbrook is too much of a "me" player to learn the point guard position and I would try and move him to shooting guard. Kevin Durant needs to add some muscle and start playing more down in the post, but haven't we said that for two years? He may lack the work ethic to make him a great player in this league.